Are you someone who feels harmed by a college or trade school?

This website and blog are for you. We are attorneys dedicated to helping students harmed by their schools due to sudden school closings, loss of accreditation, program closures, non-transferable credits, non-existent job placement, deceptive statements, and other problems. We also assist current and former employees of schools concerned about what they have witnessed in enrollment, accreditation, and other aspects of the business of higher education. To date, we have assisted thousands of adults through class actions and individual claims in recovering money from colleges and trade schools due to broken promises, misrepresentations and other misconduct. To speak to one of us, call 877-540-8333, complete this form, or send an e-mail to contact@collegewatchdogs.net.

We help students who enrolled in programs to better themselves.

Trade schools, career schools and other colleges and universities often promote themselves on the web and via television and newspapers with offers of education and placement in lucrative careers. This marketing is aimed at working adults who want to better themselves in a harsh economy where jobs are scarce and higher education is key.

But the truth about many colleges, career schools and trade schools can be this: the outcome for students often is nontransferable credits, heavy debt, non-existent job prospects -- and broken dreams. Sadly, many colleges, career schools and trade schools -- often run by for-profit corporations focused on maximizing profit -- misrepresent the credentials and opportunities that they provide to students. In many cases, students leave these schools with crushing student loan debt, no job prospects and no opportunity to transfer the "credits" they have earned.

Thomas Howlett and Dean Googasian are attorneys who have helped thousands of students harmed by unfair, deceptive and abusive practices committed by their schools. If you have concerns about a college, trade school, or career school, click here to share these concerns with the law firm, or call 877-540-8333

Colleges and trade schools often oversell and underdeliver -- frequently because they are in the business of making profit.

Colleges and trade schools offering education to adults with high school diplomas and GEDs are big business in the United States. With direct mail campaigns and through billboards, television and Internet marketing, these schools, institutes and colleges frequently attempt to lure adults into expensive programs of study with empty promises of future employment in high-paying jobs. The owners of these schools frequently make huge profits through tuition payments, typically paid with federal and state grants and loans obtained by the students.

Individuals who report fraud perpetrated on the government, including fraud by those at colleges and trade schools securing federal student loans to pay tuition, can receive financial rewards for their role in reporting such misconduct.

If you are an employee or student at a school that appears to be deceiving people, click here to share your concerns with our attorneys dedicated to helping those harmed by their schools, or e-mail us at contact@collegewatchdogs.net.

Schools often use aggressive sales pitches to lure students and collect tuition.

Unsuspecting adults trying to get ahead in the world often find themselves being misled by schools' "admissions representatives" or "enrollment counselors." These communications occur in phone calls, meetings, and online chats.

These admissions representatives typically are salespeople who have to meet enrollment targets to stay employed. Their job is to convert "leads" (adults possibly interested in further education) into "starts" (adults who enroll and pay the school, often through federal student aid.)

In the process of recruiting and enrolling students, the truth about a school and the prospects for employment after completion of a program is often obscured. Students may face misrepresentations about a school's programs or accreditation, the credentials to be earned upon graduation, and the job prospects and salaries that can be attained thereafter.

Thousands of adults each year enrolling in programs at colleges, career schools and trade schools end up disappointed and misled, often having huge student loan debts and little or nothing to show for it. If you have concerns about a particular school and what you have been told about it by its representatives, click here to send us an e-mail, or call 877-540-8333.

Schools often lack or lose the accreditation that students need.

A recurring problem for students is a lack of proper accreditation for the schools taking their tuition. Accreditation is a critical element in higher education. The credential of accreditation is one of the requirements for a school to be able to receive federal student loan funding. More importantly, accreditation often is essential to students' eligibility for licensing exams, job placement, credit transfer and further education.

Unfortunately, schools often misrepresent their accreditation status to prospective and current students. The non-existence or loss of a school's accreditation can be devastating to students, who find themselves unable to complete the type of program they intended to pursue and earn the credential they deserved.

Thomas Howlett, Dean Googasian and their colleagues investigate and pursue claims against schools that have misrepresented themselves to students. State and federal laws can provide remedies to students who have been harmed by school closings, loss of accreditation, and unfair and deceptive practices. Some laws also reward whistleblowers who report fraud committed against the government. If you have concerns about a school that you want to share, questions for us or want more information about our firm, please call 877-540-8333, send an e-mail to contact@collegewatchdogs.net, or complete this online form.